Fuel Poverty Q&A with Drew Hendry MP 2pm today. Share your experiences!

surfsister

i totally sympathize with all those struggling I'm the same in fact I'v only put my heating on when my father came to stay. I just use a fleecy blanket and hot water bottle and drink hot drinks in the evening. I am with Ebico which has not standing charges so that's one blessing - so as long as I keep the unit use down I save quite a it each day!!

I've made woolly door protectors to stop droughts under doors and fitted insulation round doors - so done all I can really. It's truly awful that we send billions in aid abroad yet out own people cannot afford heating!!

tgroom57

I'm not sure what you hope to achieve with the debate, so apologies if this is off-topic.

I'm on JSA and 32% of my spend is on energy (all electric). I manage by being very careful and a few innovative tricks, but have no money for repairs.

But I'm tired of being corralled by the govt schemes into having gch - which I don't want and which (I feel) would be more expensive (leaving aside my unreasonable dislike of gas). What I do need is a new (ie replacement) electric immersion heater, but the schemes are not designed for this.

Perhaps if you are planning new energy schemes they could be more flexible on the 'low spend' end.

missbiggles1

Many people would be much better served by just heating the room they're in rather than heating the whole house with most of the rooms empty. I/we have the CH on for an hour in the morning to take the chill off the house nd then switch to heating the living room. The CH goes on again for a couple of hours in the evening to warm the upstairs and hall/stairs.

Cost isn't a problem but I just hate waste.

Gigervamp

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Many people would be much better served by just heating the room they're in rather than heating the whole house with most of the rooms empty.

This would be better if the house has a chimney/fireplace.

I've noticed that very few new builds have chimneys. In these days of expensive fuel costs, having a fireplace should be essential.

Taylorette

When I was working part time (15 hours per week, when 16 hours were deemed full time) I did not switch my heating on at all, and limited my electricity usage. Earning around £95 a week and in receipt of no benefits made it impossible to fund "normal" usage. Instead, I'd wear multiple layers and a pair of gloves. I've now moved into a property with meters which swallow money, so even though I am now working/earning much more it is still difficult to keep on top of.

I have elderly relatives (93 and 86) who do not receive the Winter Fuel Allowance. They are by no means well off and have to wear layers upon layers to keep warm in the winter, or their fuel bills are sky high. It is a horrible thing to witness.

Marisco

Taylorette wrote: »

When I was working part time (15 hours per week, when 16 hours were deemed full time) I did not switch my heating on at all, and limited my electricity usage. Earning around £95 a week and in receipt of no benefits made it impossible to fund "normal" usage. Instead, I'd wear multiple layers and a pair of gloves. I've now moved into a property with meters which swallow money, so even though I am now working/earning much more it is still difficult to keep on top of.

I have elderly relatives (93 and 86) who do not receive the Winter Fuel Allowance. They are by no means well off and have to wear layers upon layers to keep warm in the winter, or their fuel bills are sky high. It is a horrible thing to witness.

Why don't they get WFA? All pensioners get it regardless of income.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Thanks for the additional points everyone!

Don't forget to watch the debate at 4.30pm.

missbiggles1

Taylorette wrote: »

When I was working part time (15 hours per week, when 16 hours were deemed full time) I did not switch my heating on at all, and limited my electricity usage. Earning around £95 a week and in receipt of no benefits made it impossible to fund "normal" usage. Instead, I'd wear multiple layers and a pair of gloves. I've now moved into a property with meters which swallow money, so even though I am now working/earning much more it is still difficult to keep on top of.

I have elderly relatives (93 and 86) who do not receive the Winter Fuel Allowance. They are by no means well off and have to wear layers upon layers to keep warm in the winter, or their fuel bills are sky high. It is a horrible thing to witness.

As above - why not?

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi everyone!

Great debate yesterday, it certainly showed the power of our input.

And great to have Drew retweet us from within the chamber! Fantastic example of Parliament engagement with social media.

If you missed the debate you can still view it on Parliament TV. The debate starts around the 16.37 mark and MSE gets a mention around 16.45.

Gigervamp

Not many MPs there. I guess fuel poverty is not important enough for those that didn't attend.